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Controversy leads to Cobb sign changes

By: Cliff Hightower
(Contact)

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Jim Cobb

The NRA and Tennessee Right to Life this week asked Rep. Jim Cobb, R-Spring City, to correct campaign signs claiming they have endorsed his re-election bid for the 31st District seat.

Ten signs placed around Rhea and northern Hamilton counties said Rep. Cobb had been endorsed by the National Rifle Association and Tennessee Right to Life.

Mr. Cobb said the signs were a mistake. He said he immediately placed new signs stating that the organizations endorsed him in 2006.

“I had the endorsements in 2006,” Rep. Cobb said. “I had no idea that they did not carry over to this campaign year.”

A Tennessee Right to Life spokesman said the mishap could cost Rep. Cobb its endorsement.

And Mr. Cobb’s opponent in the Aug. 7 Republican primary, Jim Vincent, said this week he thought Rep. Cobb was deceiving voters.

“He’s misrepresenting the voters,” Mr. Vincent said. “I just want him to be honest about it. That’s all I ask.”

Mr. Vincent held the 31st District seat from 2000 to 2004. He said the NRA and Tennessee Right to Life endorsed him in 2000 and 2002, and that he would seek their nods in this campaign.

Both organizations said they haven’t yet made endorsements in this campaign cycle.

NRA spokeswoman Rachel Parson said the organization has a policy of staying loyal to incumbents.

“We’re very loyal to our people who are pro-gun,” she said.

Ms. Parsons said she did not know when the NRA would endorse.

Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life, said his group’s endorsement could change because of how Rep. Cobb handled himself while dealing with the group.

Mr. Harris would not give details but said Rep. Cobb “was less than cordial” when Tennessee Right to Life asked him to take the signs down. He called the first signs deceptive.

“I think the manner in which a candidate handles himself plays a role,” Mr. Harris said.

The group expects to announce endorsements by the end of June, he said.

Rep. Cobb said he had heard Right to Life might not endorse anyone.

“That’s fine with me,” he said.

Rhea County GOP chairwoman Phyllis Thum could not be reached for comment. Connie Weathers, chairwoman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, said she felt Rep. Cobb had just made a mistake.

“I think it was just merely a misunderstanding,” she said. “I don’t think it was intentional.”

Dr. Bob Swansborough, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said it’s highly unusual for interest groups to ask for signs to be taken down in a primary. Interest groups fear offending a candidate friendly to their cause, he said.

“Since both men have been friendly to their interests, they usually wait,” he said.

Rep. Cobb said he never intentionally misled voters.

“I wouldn’t misrepresent anything like that,” he said.